VZCZCXRO7546
OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHTH #0272 0571633
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 261633Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1290
INFO RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE IMMEDIATE 0773
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 000272 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/25/2018 
TAGS:            
SUBJECT: GREECE TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST SERBIAN VIOLENCE 
 
REF: MUNTER/SPECKHARD TELCON 2/26/08 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Daniel V. Speckhard for 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
 1.  (C) On 2/26, Ambassador Speckhard met with MFA Secretary 
General Agathocles to request that Greece take steps both in 
private with Serbian officials and publicly to discourage any 
suggestion that violence against the United States and other 
states who have recognized Kosovo is justified, and to 
discourage any instigation of further violence.  Agathocles's 
reply was immediate: Greece has already expressed its concern 
about the attacks on the U.S. and other Embassies with 
Serbian officials and will gladly reiterate that such 
actions, or any statements suggesting such actions are a 
legitimate response to recognition of an independent Kosovo, 
are not acceptable and "diminish Greece's ability to help 
Serbia."  Agathocles said he would provide instructions to 
this effect to the Greek Ambassador in Belgrade "today" to 
include the need to make such a statement in an appropriate 
public forum "such as with Serbian politicians and other 
diplomats." 
 
 2.  (C) Agathocles said Greece is in a "sensitive situation" 
with Serbia.  It has good contact with FM Jeremic and 
President Tadic, but PM Kostunica "is suspicious of us" and 
has been in contact with the Greek Ambassador "several times 
a day" to inquire whether Greece is on the verge of 
recognizing Kosovo. 
 
 3.  (C) Agathocles said that the Serbian Ambassador to Athens 
recently called on Agathocles "on instructions from her 
Minister" to make clear that the Serbian Government did not 
condone the violence against the U.S. and other Embassies. 
Agathocles responded that he had no doubt that such 
instructions came from the Foreign Minister and represented 
the views of the President, but asked her if they also 
reflected the views of the Prime Minister.  The Serbian 
Ambassador responded that PM Kostunica had also said "such 
things should not happen."  Agathocles said the Serbian 
Ambassador offered an apology for the violence, and in 
particular noted that the Serbian police had failed to carry 
out their duties.  Agathocles told her that such actions 
damage Serbia's relationship with the West and "damage 
Greece's ability to help manage this situation." 
SPECKHARD